April, 2008

Blog - About

About "So, a Booth Babe and a Geek walk in to a bar..."

My name is Trika Harms zum Spreckel, and I'm on the Marketing Communications team for Windows Embedded. I'm not a booth babe, really, nor a babe, but I am in marketing and I have worked at a booth or two at events for geeks.

I've worked at Microsoft for four years+; most of that on Microsoft Learning's Marketing team as the MCP Communications person, and a year before that at a Microsoft vendor called Write Image. Before THAT, I worked for an ISP called Cyveillance, in Washington, DC and London, doing account management and project management. Before THAT I was a management consultant at PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Washington, DC, and before THAT I worked for a non-profit in Virginia, continuing-education for doctors and nurses. I studied finance, but now I barely balance my checkbook.

I grew up on Vashon Island, near Seattle, in Washington State. I live in Seattle now and ride Microsoft's premier vanpool, "the Tick," to work in Redmond.

For starters, I'll be there.
Something else is that we're having weekend certification events, if you know what I mean.
Developers: weekend exam cram
On Saturday, June 7, during the weekend in between the two TechEd 2008 events in Orlando, Florida...

If there is one thing you should know about Visual Studio 2008 certifications... it is that there are three things you should know. There are six MCTS certifications to choose from to show off your specific technology skill set. Three of those six can...

We'll be hosting three Live Meeting 'cram for your exam' sessions to help new people get started. We've done this at TechEd before, and it seems like it goes really well.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
These are for people who have some familiarity with...

Last October we sent out vouchers for 40% off on upgrade exams 70-648 and 70-649 - to people who had completed their Windows Server 2003 cert and registered with us for the offer. If you are one of those people... make sure and use your voucher because...

Are you nice?
Excellent. Check this out: MCP mentors is a cool new program some people around here are cooking up, through which our certified community helps others get started in IT. To participate in this pilot, it makes most sense if you are in...

I kind of gave partial information about the exam crams and bootcamp we're doing as part of the weekend community events at TechEd . Sorry for not having more details - but the opportunity to do this came up kind of last minute so we are still pulling...

Free lunch: Any Microsoft Certified peeps (MCTS, MCPD, MCITP) want to have lunch in Bellevue today (Wednesday)? Last minute, I know. I'll treat if you can meet us downtown around lunchtime, maybe 1-ish. Send me an e-mail in the morning if you're around...

Adrian asked: I noticed that the MCP exam 70-301 will be retiring next year . Are there any plans for a new MCP exam on Microsoft Solutions Framework 4.0? Jeff (my friend and dev cert person) answered: Thanks for asking! We are currently looking in to...

But the number of certified professional page ain't one. Looks like it was just updated last week . Sorry for the delay from the last update; our friend Suzy, who does all the work around here, was double checking some suspect numbers. No eye contact;...

The official announcement about the March 2009 exam retirements I talked about earlier --including the MCDBA, MCAD, and MCSD exams--has been posted here . You have one year to finish up any of those exams, and a year to complete your MCDBA, MCAD, or MCSD...

Microsoft Learning people talking during lunch at TechEd. Spread the word. More info on the weekend cram sessions/testing/bootcamps by the end of the day. Developer week Microsoft Learning Lunch Sessions LUN03: CSI: Redmond – Exam Forensics and...

We make exams in lots* of languages. but we haven't always made the info about the exams available in other languages. So you good people can take the exam in your own language, and probably find books and courses and everything in your own language,...

You are invited to attend a focus group about the MCP site . If you haven't been there recently, it is the password-protected site where you access your certification tools (transcript, cert planner, logos, welcome kit ordering, etc). If you have been...

All in one place... here's what coming up. Please help get the word out! T
Windows Server 2008 Certification: From the Beginning
Let Us Help You Prepare: Cram for Your First Exam on Vista, Windows Server, or Visual Studio!
.NET 3.5 and Visual...

If you missed the Certification 101 live meeting, you can watch the recording here . I'm sorry it took me so long to post this. We talk about: value and benefits of Microsoft Certification (IT pro and developer only) what the certifications are called...

Here is from the AM session with Rob: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/lmevents/view?id=msft042308lm&pw=ATT11530lm
PM session with J: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/lmevents/view?id=msft042308lmpm&pw=ATT11531lm
Same information, don't watch...

Here I am, putting my life on the line, at risk of blogging until I drop , just to let you know that you can now find a list of our certifications by technology in addition to the list by name that we've had up for ages. There will be some usability studies...

Hi. Please remind your cert-curious friends and colleagues about tomorrow's Microsoft Certification 101 meeting. Per wikipedia , "101" is not only a palindromic prime (well, obviously) but also a "beginning-level or basic course number...

I believe most of you already know this, it's not just in at all. Windows Server 2008 exams 70-646 and 70-647 are available at Prometric test centers worldwide as of last week. These are the two professional-series exams that make it possible, now, for...

Hello, customers,* Thank you for your nice e-mails and comments. You are fun customers to have. To wit: Dear , i have seen one of your videos regarding vs 2008 beta exams. i like your wa of presenting ..things.. keep rocking.. bye bye :-...

As you probably already saw from Gerry, we extended the dates of two beta exams and you are invited to participate. Exams are 71-561:TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, ADO.NET Application Development and 71-562: TS: Microsoft .NET 3.5, ASP.NET Application...